Gen Z’s newest brand freebies are access to AI tools. In a push to win over young users, companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are flooding college campuses with free trials, steep student discounts, and even ambassador programs. ChatGPT Plus, Claude, and other premium models have also recently become accessible to students for free, just in time for finals season. Students are using them not just for schoolwork now, but for budgeting, fitness planning, and personal advice, too. These companies are betting that early adoption will lead to long-term user loyalty, in the same way brands like ClassPass and DoorDash did by giving highly discounted activities and food to Millennials. The convenience is undeniable—but as one student put it, it’s a slippery slope. AI might be helping them pass exams today, but it could also be automating away the careers they’re studying for tomorrow. (The Atlantic)
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